A unique attraction, the Taonga River Journey is actually a two-part attraction, serving with two different entrance and exit ports. Because of this, the boats continue in a single loop around the river, but riders only stay on for one stretch of it. While not an exact map, this gives the idea of the attraction's system.

The Rock Forest does have some greenery to it, but the terrain looks more fearsome with the jutting rock spires. From atop the rock spires, Screeching Terrors look down from their nests and let out the occasional screech, while Mountain Hyenas eye our passing boat. Our Skipper notes their behavior, saying that they seem more on edge than normal. The source of the tension must be territorial, as we find ourselves passing a rock alcove from where we hear a Horned Crocodile and Islandic Hippo locked in battle. Horned Crocodiles watch from their beach, as we sail past a herd of Islandic Hippos. A few even rise from the water to attack our boat, but the Skipper keeps their cool and gets us through safely. One last surprise attack from a Horned Crocodile leaves our Skipper realizing that something has driven these creatures into competition.

Passing from the jutting rocks back towards the jungle forest, we see what has caused the competition: human encroachment. Trees are upturned, as steampunk excavators and drills pump away, breaking the sounds of nature with their mechanized blare. Our Skipper notices that the machines have diverted the river path, forcing us off-course. They sail us down the path pathway, into the remains of an old temple. Inside, Lowlands Cloud Rats scurry and squeak among the rubble as a statue of a Spirit Beast stands with a bad crack in its side. Turning through, we are greeted with the sight of a large drill piercing the stone wall. It starts out to move toward us…before sputtering dead and backing up. Once we exit the temple, our Skipper calls out what saved us from the drill: a Protopachyus, raising its trunk in triumph having knocked a tree down and smashed the drill.

Leaving the excavation site, our port comes into the view. The Skipper thanks us for joining them on this journey and reminds us to be careful around the island, taking only what we need. We pull into port, and safely disembark from our boat.

The boat winds through a few scenes, showing an O’olo raiding a Suleiman’s manakin’s nest. It doesn’t realize that not far behind it is a fossarana. “Ah, the O’olo, a silly animal that hunts for eggs. Those poor suleiman’s manikins don’t know what is coming for their eggs. But maybe they won’t have to worry about that o’olo for long…” We then reach the forest’s edge, where the guide says “We are reaching the Spiny Forest. The hyenas have been seen all the way out here. Holler if you see anything, and remember, they don’t look like any hyena you’ve ever seen. But you’ll know it when you see it. They laugh like every other type before an attack.”

We float down the river through the spiny forest where we see a small group of protolemus feasting on the fruit of a yuma plant as a Yuma Megabat circles them. We pass by a Motu Wairuna Rail feasing below a Giant Chameleon as we hear whooping and laughing from afar. “Keep your eyes out friends, they laugh before an attack. Or, at least they have been. I don’t know what has gotten into them.” We see an Islandic Hawk sitting above a small group of Motu Wairua snellutes, when the whooping grows. We turn a bend and come face to face with four Islandic Hyenas.

“We’d best pray these hyenas are hunting gazella and not merchants.” The guide says, speeding the boat up. This stretch of the river we fly down, passing animatronics of hyenas that lunge out at us (using miniature KUKA arms), but we are able to escape, passing back into the jungle. “Oh good, we escaped. But this is a small part of jungle, we aren’t in the clear yet. On the other side of this, is the Baobab Savannah, the prime hunting grounds of Island hyena. Something must have upset them. I have been here for years and never seen them act like this. Perhaps those Maori Legends have some truth to them.”

We pass through the forest, seeing a small group of Protopachyus grazing alongside a massive juju bird and a small herd of Indruka Gazella. “All is quiet, for now, but watch out. We can never be too certain.” We weave through, seeing another group of protolemus grooming each other as an Islandic Hawk stalks them from the branches of a baobab tree.” Suddenly, all goes silent as we round another corner, coming to a large log blocking our path. Two hyenas jump up from behind the log, startling us, as we begin to turn down a fork in the river. We race down, trying to avoid the hyenas, but they continue to appear as we go. Suddenly, the guide stops, realizing something. “Now, this may be a long shot, but it’s our only hope. If those Maori are right, we have been transporting something that belongs to the island. He picks a horn out of a bag, holding it up. The hyenas snarl and he stops. “Alright then, have it!” The skipper tosses the horn over the bush (into a mechanism that will bring it under the river back to the port to be used on another boat) and the hyenas stop. We are able to continue down river, entering a portion of forest.

“That was allegedly the horn of a “Spirit Beast” an animal that is said to be the island herself. I’ve never seen one myself, nor have anyone I know, but those hyenas certainly stopped when I got rid of it. They say that killing a spirit beast is the worst crime a man can do on this island, and I guess the animals think so too. Either that, or it’s one crazy coincidence. Anyway, luckily I know the way back to port. I just hope those men don’t miss that horn too much, I hear it was priceless.” We pass through the jungle, seeing Crocodile Frogs resting on rocks as Lemurian Flamingo wade in the waters nearby Horned Crocodile. Everything is peaceful as we pass by a final grotto. Draping vines pull away like curtains as we see a massive antelope-like creature with huge horns and beautiful colors and patterns. It bows to us as our guide smiles. “Well, I guess we did the right thing, huh? Take pictures friends, nobody will believe you have seen a real spirit beast.”

Guests take pictures as the boat exits the grotto, passing by a few large baobabs and rock spires as we approach the unloading dock. “Thank you friends, for joining me today. I hope everyone has had a great time on our little trip through Motu Wairua, the Living Island. And heed this warning friends, take only what you need, do not give in to greed. If you do this, you can live in harmony with the island.” With that, we reach the dock and exit. The boat then picks up passengers and does the first stretch of the ride again.